LURAY — On a full moon this Friday night, hundreds will gather at the old Fodder House Farm by the Shenandoah River to celebrate the third annual Doah Fest. Co-owner Keith Sessler said that at this point in time the festival is ahead of last year's attendance of around 500.
This year's main stage has been completely rebuilt and designed to accommodate large bands that could not stretch their legs on last year's semi-truck stage. All of the bands, except for the river sets will perform on the new main stage.

FRONT ROYAL — Organizers of the 58th annual Warren County Fair are busy making last-minute preparations in order to begin receiving guests on Saturday.
The stages are set for a packed week of entertainment from pageants to concerts — including the country group Little Texas on Friday night; the Warren County Fair offers something for the whole family to enjoy.

FRONT ROYAL — Rivermont Volunteer Fire Department may be getting a new fire house sooner than expected because of unsafe conditions at the current station.
Around the end of May, the Board of Supervisors held a public hearing listening to views for and against the idea of consolidating Rivermont and Fortsmouth Volunteer Fire Departments within the next two years. In a presentation by Chief Richard Mabie and Fire Mashal Gerry Maiatico, their suggestion was to consolidate the two stations into one facility on property owned by the county on Airport Road.
The new station, which would cost about $3 million dollars. would serve more than 38 square miles and more than 2,300 addresses, Mabie said.

FRONT ROYAL — With a new fire recruitment and retention position in the works for the Warren County Fire Department, fire officials are hoping to bring in new volunteers for the county.
The Board of Supervisors approved a part-time recruiting and retention coordinator in the fire and rescue department, at an estimated cost of $20,000 per year.
"We have to address the decline in the local volunteer fire and EMS workforce," Fire Chief Richard Mabie said.
Mabie explained to the board that the recruitment and retention committee recently made the proposal to fund a position to serve as the recruitment and retention officer.
The Department of Fire and Rescue Services and its fire and EMS organizations face several obstacles, the largest being its recruitment and retention of personnel, Mabie said.

LURAY ― More visitors are traveling overseas to visit Virginia, Gov. Terry McAuliffe announced last Tuesday.
In 2014, the state welcomed 413,000 overseas visitors ― up 17 percent from the previous year. That increase is the largest the state's seen in the past five years. It's also the first time in those five years that overseas visitors topped 400,000.
“Virginia's tourism industry is essential to our economic future, and it is thriving,” said McAuliffe in a July 21 news release. “Tourism is [an] instant revenue generator that helps us build a new Virginia economy by creating jobs and bringing new economic activity to our Commonwealth.”
Last month, McAuliffe announced that the state is on track to see more than $22.4 billion in domestic tourism revenues for 2014 ― a 4.1 percent increase from 2013.

GROTTOES – It’s lawn party time again in Grottoes.
The Grottoes Volunteer Fire Department’s annual lawn party and Summer Bash Raffle begins Wednesday, July 29, and runs through Saturday, Aug. 1. The event, which is held at Mountain View Park, 1100 20th St., is the department’s main fundraiser.
Famous Lawn Party chicken will be sold beginning at 4 p.m. nightly.
The Fireman’s Parade is featured Friday at 7 p.m. It starts at the intersection of Forest Avenue and 6th Street and culminates at Mountain View Park.

MCGAHEYSVILLE – Preparing for the next 50 years. That’s what McGaheysville Volunteer Fire Company is doing.
The fire company recently started an expansion of its facility at Stover Drive and U.S. 33.
“Our call volume is getting closer to needing 24-hour coverage,” fire company President Darwin Rhodes said. “We’re trying to prepare for the next 50 years.”
The fire company celebrated its 50th anniversary at its annual lawn party last week.
Fire Chief Todd Breeden, who has been in his position for eight years, said calls for service have been going up approximately 5 percent each year for the past five years.

ROCKLAND — When Lynwood Morrison created Bowling Green Country Club over 30 years ago, his v goal was always good golf at an affordable price.
Over the years Bowling Green built a steady and loyal membership and daily play following.
But in recent years the 36-hole facility began showing it's age.
The older North Course and clubhouse were in need of repair and updating.
The newer South Course and it's own clubhouse were in need a little tender loving care as well.
Morrison has been deceased for a while but son Woody and daughter Ginger, the new owners, wanted to restore Bowling Green to the father's original vision.
The Morrison's signed on Wingfield Golf Properties to manage the facility last year and the improvements in that short time have been noticed and appreciated.

ALACHUA, Fla.— There has never been a team from the Shenandoah Babe Ruth rec. league that has advanced to the World Series — until now.
The Shenandoah 12-U All-Stars won three games in the Southeast Regional tournament last weekend, advancing them to the World Series.
“This means a lot to us,” head coach Megan Gordon said. “We are a young team so we weren't sure if it was going to happen this year, but it was always the goal. Every tournament was played to help prepare us for the World Series.”The All-Stars had a tough road to get where they are.

CHARLOTTESVILLE — Former Skyline High School golf stars Ryan Rettberg and Zack Henry continue to shine as the duo both advanced to the final 32 and match play phase of the 102nd VSGA Amateur Championship at Farmington County Club last month.
The old Hawks duo and good friends both recently graduated from college - Rettberg from Radford and Henry from James Madison - surveyed the qualifying stroke play segment of the tournament that featured 132 of the best amateur golfers in the Commonwealth.